Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Finalists

NEW YORK (May 16, 2013) – Right wing Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, left wing Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders and right wing Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning are the three finalists for the 2012-13 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability,” the National Hockey League announced today.

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association submitted ballots for the Lady Byng Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, with more detail on format to be released at a later date.

Following are the finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy, in alphabetical order:

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Kane ranked fifth in the NHL in both goals (23) and points (55), leading Chicago to its second Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. He played in 47 games, averaging 20:03 of playing time, but was whistled for just eight penalty minutes – the fewest among the top 20 point-producers in the League. Kane also recorded a +11 rating, his second-best plus/minus in his six-year NHL career, and tied for seventh in the League with eight power-play goals. The 24-year-old Buffalo, N.Y., native is a Lady Byng finalist for the first time.

Matt Moulson, New York Islanders
Moulson placed in the top three on the Islanders in goals (15), assists (29) and points (44), helping the team to its first playoff berth in six years. He totaled four penalty minutes in 47 games, tied with San Jose forward Logan Couture for the fewest among the top 50 scorers in the League. Moulson also posted his fourth consecutive 15-goal season, tied for seventh in the NHL with eight power-play goals and logged an average of 19:09 per game. The 29-year-old North York, Ont., native is a Lady Byng finalist for the second straight year, having finished third in voting in 2011-12.

Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
St. Louis led the NHL with 43 assists and 60 points in 48 games to capture his second career Art Ross Trophy (2003-04). He averaged 1.25 points per game, becoming one of only three players in League history to achieve that mark at age 37 or older (Mario Lemieux, 2002-03; Gordie Howe, 1968-69). St. Louis also ranked second among NHL forwards in total time on ice (1,055:12), but was assessed just 14 penalty minutes. The Laval, Que., native is a two-time Lady Byng winner (2009-10, 2010-11) and has been voted a finalist for the award on four other occasions.

History
Lady Byng, wife of Canada’s Governor-General at the time, presented the Lady Byng Trophy during the 1924-25 season. After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times in eight seasons, he was given the trophy to keep and Lady Byng donated another trophy in 1936. After Lady Byng’s death in 1949, the National Hockey League presented a new trophy, changing the name to the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

Marian Hossa Dive, Niklas Kronwall Charged With Two-Minutes

Marian Hossa with a ridiculous dive in the second period of Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals. Detroit Niklas Kronwall received a two minute minor for tripping.

 

Western & Eastern Conference Semifinals Preview

A nice and must read article Previewing the Western & Eastern Conference Quarterfinals written by the guys at Hockey Primetime.
  
Western Conference Semifinals: 
http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/latest-headlines/western-conference-semi-finals-preview-blackhawks-vs-red-wings
http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/latest-headlines/western-conference-semi-finals-preview-kings-vs-sharks

Eastern Conference Semifinals:
http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/latest-headlines/eastern-conference-semi-finals-preview-bruins-vs-rangers
http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/latest-headlines/eastern-conference-semi-finals-preview-penguins-vs-senators

2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series Goes To Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK (May 15, 2013) – Two outdoor regular-season NHL^® games will be played at Yankee Stadium during the 2013-14 season as part of the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series^™ the National Hockey League announced today.
The two games scheduled for Yankee Stadium are:

New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils
Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 12:30 p.m. ET

New York Rangers at New York Islanders
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 7:30 p.m. ET
 
The two games at Yankee Stadium complete the four-game 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™ scheduled for next season. On Jan. 25, the Anaheim Ducks will play the Los Angeles Kings at Dodger Stadium. On March 1, the Chicago Blackhawks will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Soldier Field.

“The innovative nature of the Stadium Series affords the opportunity to have all three NHL teams in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area play, outdoors, at one of the most-celebrated stadiums in the world,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We'll be able to create a multi-faceted, multi-day experience for our fans, and we thank the teams, Coors Light, the New York Yankees and Yankee Stadium for their support of this memorable NHL event.”

In just five years of its existence, Yankee Stadium already has provided the setting for some of the country’s most popular events as the baseball diamond has been transformed to host games between several of college football’s finest programs – including the annual New Era Pinstripe Bowl – concerts by Grammy Award-winning acts, top-tier soccer talent from around the world and a super welterweight title boxing match. However, the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™ will be the first time the Stadium has been used for hockey.

As one of the world’s most prestigious addresses, the original Yankee Stadium was also the home for scores of additional sports, entertainment and cultural events, as well as political assemblies, three Papal masses, religious conventions, concerts, NYU commencements and the circus.  

“We have long thought that Yankee Stadium would be a great venue for outdoor hockey,” said Lonn Trost, New York Yankees Chief Operating Officer. “In addition to being a first-class baseball facility, Yankee Stadium was designed to house unique and memorable events, such as the NHL Stadium Series™. Hosting two of the NHL’s classic rivalries at Yankee Stadium will be a great kickoff for the worldwide sporting events in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area scheduled in early 2014.”

The rivalries among the three NHL clubs based in the New York metropolitan area go well beyond the natural contentiousness of proximity. The Rangers, Islanders and Devils each have been successful on the ice, combining to win 11 Stanley Cup® Championships, including eight of the past 32.  

“The New Jersey Devils are proud to have been selected to host the first of two games at Yankee Stadium,” said Devils President/CEO/General Manager Lou Lamoriello. “The NHL Stadium Series will be a memorable experience for our organization, our players and, most importantly, our fans. We are thrilled to play our divisional rival, while adding to the legacy of one of the nation’s most recognized sports facilities.”

“The New York Islanders are honored to take part in the National Hockey League’s outdoor stadium series,” Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said. “Our fan-base is one of the most passionate in the NHL. The support we consistently receive from our fans was on display during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs and I expect it to be on an even greater scale when we take on the Rangers. This is what makes the games against the Rangers one of the best rivalries in the league. I look forward to seeing a strong contingent of the orange and blue in the stands at Yankee Stadium.”

“The New York Rangers are honored to participate in these two historic games at Yankee Stadium, bringing hockey into the home of another one of New York’s iconic sports franchises,” said Rangers President & General Manager Glen Sather. “Playing hockey outdoors takes the game back to its roots and reminds us all why we laced up our skates as youngsters.  We are excited to be able to bring that experience and thrill to our fans and the city of New York.”
Division foes during the regular season, the teams also have battled each other during memorable postseasons.

The Rangers and Devils have met six times in the Playoffs. Perhaps the most memorable of those series was in 1994 when the clubs faced off in the Eastern Conference Final. After proving to be the two best teams in the League during the regular season, they required a legendary series to determine the Eastern Conference champion, with the Rangers’ Stephane Matteau winning the deciding Game 7 in double-overtime. The Rangers went on to win the Stanley Cup® in seven games over the Vancouver Canucks. The Devils countered 12 months later by winning the first of their three Stanley Cup® Championships over the following nine seasons.

The Rangers and Islanders have met eight times in the postseason, including four straight years from 1981-84. The Devils and Islanders have met once in the post-season, with New Jersey earning a 4-2 series victory in the 1988 Patrick Division Semifinal.

The Rangers first played the Islanders in a regular-season game on Oct. 21, 1972, at Nassau Coliseum – a 2-1 win by the Rangers. The Rangers first faced the Devils in a regular-season game (after the team moved to New Jersey) on Oct. 8, 1982, at Brendan Byrne Arena – a 3-2 victory by the Devils.

“The teams playing in these two games - the Rangers, Islanders and Devils - have tremendously loyal fans and the rivalries are intense because of their proximity and playoff history,” said Mathieu Schneider, NHLPA special assistant to the Executive Director. “Yankee Stadium is a landmark venue in New York City and to see hockey played in such a celebrated setting will be extremely memorable to the players and everyone involved.”

Further details on this special NHL event, including national broadcast information and specifics on ticket opportunities for the season-ticket holders of each team, will be released shortly. Fans interested in receiving more information on ticketing, news and special offers around the event should register at http://www.NHL.com/2014NewYork
. NHL Network™ and NHL.com will provide extensive coverage live from New York leading up to and after the games. NHL Social™ will have exclusive coverage on all social platforms, including the use of the hashtag #StadiumSeries.

Since the NHL established the tradition of hosting regular-season games outdoors to celebrate the origin and traditions of hockey, fans across North America have expressed their desire for those celebrations to spread across the hockey landscape. Five of the six most- watched regular-season NHL games in the U.S. in the past 38 years have been played outdoors.

The NHL recently announced that the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 1, when the Detroit Red Wings will host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium on the University of Michigan campus. It is anticipated that the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® could set a world record for attendance at a hockey game.

The first-ever NHL regular-season game contested outdoors was played in 2003 when the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Montreal Canadiens at Commonwealth Stadium. Since then, the NHL has played six additional regular-season games outdoors. For a history of these games, please visit NHL.com.

Official fan packages for all NHL signature events will be available from Global Event Forum, the Official NHL Events™ Fan Package Partner. For more information please visit nhl.com/fanpackages.

Raffi Torres Suspended For Remainder Of Series Due To An Illegal Check to The Head Of Jarret Stoll

On May 14, 2013, San Jose Sharks' Raffi Torres has been suspended for the remainder of the series after delivering an illegal hit to the head of Los Angeles Kings' Jarret Stoll in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals. The incident occurred at 19:02 of the second period. Stoll did not return back into the game.